Despite what it described as a “cordial” meeting with University of Virginia Rector Helen E. Dragas this morning, the U.Va Faculty Senate Executive Council released a statement Monday morning calling for her resignation and that of Vice Rector Mark J. Kington.

The statement comes just hours before the full board of visitors is scheduled to meet at 3 p.m. in a closed session today to discuss the naming of an interim president, following the sudden forced ouster of President Teresa Sullivan on June 10.

The statement, below, echoes a call made by Del. David J. Toscano, D-Charlottesville yesterday, asking the rector and vice rector to resign and for the board to reinstate Sullivan. The council’s full statement appears below. It’s also seeking faculty representation on the board as voting member.

“This morning, the Faculty Senate Executive Council met with Rector Dragas to discuss the recent resignation of President Sullivan. We invited the vice rector, but he did not attend. The purpose of the meeting was to allow the council to ask questions raised by the university faculty concerning recent events, and to hear the board’s perspective.

We asked the rector about the process and the reasons behind President Sullivan’s resignation; the principles of shared governance between the faculty, administration and the board; the board’s desire for a strategic plan; and the board’s justification for the speedy and secretive nature of its actions.

We had a cordial discussion. Based on extensive input from our faculty constituents and the rector’s responses to our questions, we made the following requests:

1. That the board delay the naming of any interim president to provide an opportunity for shared governance;
2. That President Sullivan be reinstated;
3. That the board recommend representation by U.Va. faculty on the board as voting members; and
4. That the rector and vice rector resign in the best interests of the university.